Your observation not acceptable: Chief Minister writes to Chidambaram

procession in Jhilimili, Bankura

KOLKATA, 31st December: Immediately after receiving Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s second letter to him West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattcharjee, sent his reply on December 31 saying, “I am unable to accept with your attitude towards Left Front workers in our State and also your observation regarding failure of law and order in certain areas.”

The Chief Minister who did not want to disclose the content of his letter to the media but was compelled to do this as all correspondences “between us” were released to the media by the Union Home Minister prior to his meeting with the Union Home Minister in Delhi. The Chief Minister has been invited by Chidambaram to Delhi to “have a frank discussion” on the law and order situation in West Bengal.

Referring to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee taking serious exception to the use of the word “Harmad” to mean CPI(M) cadres in his first letter Chidambaram in his latest letter wanted to know a synonymous word of “Harmad” from the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister, however, said in reply, “I am unable to replace it with any better word that I may suggest.” He said he could not offer him any such word since he was unable to accept with Union Home Minister’s attitude toward Left Front workers.

Chief Minister Bhattacharjee has drawn Chidambaram’s attention to Trinamool Congress’s nexus with Maoist.” You are aware there is clinching evidence of the encouragement and support that the Maoists are getting from the Trinamool Congress. “Unfortunately, you have chosen not to mention this problem in your letter,” the Chief Minister said in his reply to the two letters sent by Chidambaram.

FULL TEXT

D.O. No. 121-CM

Decemebr 31, 2010

Chief Minister’s letter to Union Home Minister

Dear Shri Chidambaram,

I wanted not to open all our correspondences before media but to discuss with you the problems when I meet you in Delhi. Bust as you have already released the correspondence between us to media. I feel compelled to write further on the issues raised by you.

I have noted the reasons behind late arrival of your letter in my office but I cannot accept the deliberate leakage of letters to the Press. I objected to the use of the ward “harmad” for obvious reasons. Unfortunately, you have proposed to replace it with any better word that I may suggest. I am sorry I cannot offer you any such word since I am unable to accept with your attitude towards Left Front workers in our State and also your observation regarding failure of law and order in certain areas.While I share your anxiety on the found situation in Maoist affected areas, I again assure you that our policy is to take appropriate administrative steps against all armed groups who may try to disturb law and order.

The role being by TMC by joining the Maoists and their outfits and now openly organizing public meetings is a dangerous development of which serious note should be taken by your Ministry. You are aware that there are clinching evidence of the encouragement and support that the Maoists are getting from Trinamool Congress. Unfortunately you have chosen not to mention this problem in your letter.The deaths resulting from political clashes clearly show that CPI(M) workers were killed in far greater numbers than TMC supporters. I deeply deplore all deaths in such clashes irrespective of their political affiliations. In no way the violence is justified. I am trying my best to put a stop to such violence. Unfortunately, TMC is not cooperating with the administration in this effort and you are fully aware of this.

I conclude here by saying once again that I will try to go to Delhi as early as possible to meet you and discuss all the related issues.

With regards,

Yours sincerely

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee

31.12.2010

BUDDHADEB REPLIES TO CHIDAMBARAM: Centre Speaking Trinamul Language on Maoists Issue

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, chief minister of the Left Front government of West Bengal, wrote to the union home minister P Chidambaram the following letter on December 28, in reply to the latter’s accusation that armed CPI(M) cadre were creating law and order problems in the state.

KINDLY refer to your secret letter dated December 21-22, 2010, which had been published in the media before it reached my office on December 27, 2010, at 11 a m.

Your assessment of the situation in the state of West Bengal is surprising and is far from an impartial overview of the situation. Maoists have spread from across the bordering states and, with the help of small section of local people, are creating problems mostly in 28 police stations in three districts of West Bengal. They are trying to create their own area of dominance. They are indiscriminately killing political opponents and even innocent people. They are attacking police stations and police camps, and looting arms. They are also engaged in large scale extortions and other unlawful activities.

You are fully aware of these activities of the Maoists. The greatest challenge is how to contain the Maoists and defeat them finally, both administratively and politically.

In recent times the state and central police, through their joint efforts, have achieved major successes. Peace and normalcy have been restored in vast areas. People who were evicted earlier are going back to their homes. Government/panchayat offices are functioning normally and so are the schools, markets and shops. Life is gradually coming back to normalcy in these areas, but still we have problems in the areas bordering our state. Trinamul Congress, which was earlier maintaining secret contacts with Maoist leaders and outfits, are now openly organising meetings with them.

The CPI(M) and its allies are trying their best to resist the Maoists by mobilising people against them and, in the process, they have lost more than 170 of their workers and leaders. Unfortunately, you are now blaming them for the present state of affairs. I am afraid it will divert the attention of all concerned who are struggling against Maoists, the greatest threat to our internal security.

As regards political clashes mentioned in your letter, I would like to correct your figures. 32 Trinamul Congress supporters have been killed and 601 have suffered injuries. The CPI(M) has lost 69 of its cadres and another 723 have been injured. The Indian National Congress has lost one of its supporters and 111 have been injured during the period mentioned in your letter. I, however, agree that it is not a happy situation and I am trying my best to stop these senseless killings. I have repeatedly appealed to all the opposition parties to cooperate. All the parties except Trinamul Congress have come forward to cooperate. The Trinamul Congress has refused to talk to the administration. I am trying to disarm and demobilise all armed groups engaged in violence in some pockets in the state.

I strongly object to your using the word “harmad” to mean the CPI(M) party workers without knowing to the actual meaning of this nasty word coined by Trinamul Congress leaders.

More when we meet!

28.12.10